I was looking at Jamie's ranking yesterday but I couldn't get my head around how many places he could rise. 4 seems about right.

Also importantly for the team is Max will move up 2 places to 18 giving them a combined ranking of about 54 instead of 60. The next closest guy to max who was 600 odd points ahead of him dropped a whopping 500 points thanks to Booty and Jamie's little bro Andy.

Very difficult to work out but I think the cut-off for the IW was a combined ranking of 61. I counted 2 pairs had 61 and Max/Jamie had 60. Now they will have a little more breathing room for Miami. Jamie has nothing to defend in Miami but will lose 40 points from Indianapolis if they win the first round. Indianapolis is the worst 'best 14' points.

With the number of singles players joining the draw it can make it difficult for teams who are on the edge of getting in. I'm not sure I like it where the singles guys get priority as I think the specialist doubles players should be given priority. I don't know how it works but I guess a lot of favours are done. I guess it worked well for Jamie when Andy played with him initially to get him in the mix so he could get on the main tour.

I think it's just that the highest ranking you have is what counts to your combined ranking. So Andy and Jamie would have had a combined ranking of 51 at the beginning of this week. But I don't think the singles guys can get seeded on the basis of their singles ranking. So like, if Nadal and Fed teamed up they wouldn't get seeded. I shall see if I can check that out though.

I think it's just that the highest ranking you have is what counts to your combined ranking. So Andy and Jamie would have had a combined ranking of 51 at the beginning of this week. But I don't think the singles guys can get seeded on the basis of their singles ranking. So like, if Nadal and Fed teamed up they wouldn't get seeded. I shall see if I can check that out though.

The combined ranking could be true. I was going to post that if I had a ATP card or whatever it is to play tennis I could rock up with Federer or Andy and pickup USD3500.00 for getting hammered.

There's something about similar abilities built in though. It came in with the doubles revolution stuff in 2006. Before that there was opportunities for singles guys to play MS and GS on the current rules and almost WC type idea spots at normal tournament level but it was at the discretion of the tournament. Now it's hard and fast. Although where it's hard and fast I have no idea cause I can't find it anywhere!

I've found it. I had to wade through the ATP Rulebook but it's something that has bothered me for a while so it didn't bother me. Here's the extract:

Quote

C. Doubles Main Draw - ATP and Challengers

Direct acceptances for ATP and Challenger Series events shall be in the following order:1) Teams composed of players in either the INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking (Singles) or the ATP Doubles Entry Ranking. The combined positions of the two players (using best singles or doubles Entry Ranking) shall be added together and the total used to determine the Direct Acceptances. The most recent INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking (Singles) and/or ATP Doubles Entry Ranking List, including any Entry Protection, shall be used.

Ties shall be resolved as follows:a) Team using two (2) singles Entry rankings.b) Team using one (1) singles Entry ranking.c) A team using an Entry Protection is positioned below the other team(s); if one player on each team is using an Entry Protection then the position of each remaining player determines which team is positioned higher.d) For ties between teams with the same composition, priority will be given to the team with the strongest individual singles Entry Ranking, including Protected ranking, or for teams using two doubles Entry Ranking's, the fewest number of tournaments played and then the team with the highest number of points.

2) If the doubles draw cannot be filled by teams with at least one member who is listed in the ATP Singles or Doubles Entry Ranking,a) ATP - the remaining places shall be filled with byes.b) Challengers - the remaining places shall be filled, at the option of the Tournament, with unranked teams or with byes.

D. Seeds -ATP and ChallengersSeeded teams will be determined by using the combined doubles ranking of the two players (entry protection not included). Ties shall be broken as follows:1) The team with the fewest events played is positioned higher.2) The team with the highest number of points is positioned higher.3) A coin flip or draw if a tie remains.

E. QualifiersQualifiers are teams who are included in the main draw as a result of their success in a qualifying competition. If the main draw is made prior to the completion of a qualifying competition, it shall include as many qualifying places as there are sections in the qualifying draw. Each of these qualifying places shall be positioned in the main draw in accordance with standard drawing procedures. Determination as to which qualifier goes into which qualifying place shall be by drawing after the qualifying competition ends.

Quite a shame that the rule actually seems to favor the singles guys over the specialists, which is a shame. But the seedings is doubles ranking, which is fair.

Found a couple of other fascinating thing out about the particular rules concerning qualifying. Oh, and did you know the top 10 aren't allowed to enter challenger events at all? And events are only allowed to give WC's to a certain number of players from 11-50?